The Local Area - Things to Do and Places to Visit:
Whether you want an active holiday or simply to relax soaking up the summer sun in this idyllic spot, there is something for everyone at La Grille! In addition to the local village boulangerie, the neighbouring town of MATHA is well serviced by supermarkets, butchers, patissiers, banks, a post office and thriving weekly market. There are several good restaurants nearby and plenty of local vineyards where you can sample and buy excellent wines for next to nothing. And of course, you could try the local aperitif - Pineau des Charentes. Play tennis only a few minutes walk away in the neighbouring village of HAIMPS, or enjoy a round of golf at the course in COGNAC. With very little traffic, the area is ideal for both walking and cycling. There are lots of interconnecting lanes which gently weave their way through fields, woodland and forgotten hamlets. With plenty of spots to enjoy long, lazy picnics in the heat of the day, you may even catch sight of the odd red squirrel or hoopoe.
Beautiful beaches are under an hour away and there are some very pretty towns and villages well worth a visit:
ST JEAN D'ANGELY with its colourful twice weekly market selling fresh regional produce, cobbled streets and medieval timber framed buildings; SAINTES with its Roman amphitheatre and river trips along the Charente;
LA ROCHELLE with its chic shopping, charming harbour and state of the art aquarium; COGNAC with its famous brandy houses and river cruises; the island of ILE DE RE with its wonderful seafood restaurants.
There are plenty of activities on offer for the younger guest:
The Futuroscope theme park at POITIERS; a fantastic swim centre at ST JEAN D'ANGELY (Atlantys);
The world famous zoo at LA PALMYRE near ROYAN; make your own chocolate at the Chocolate Factory in ANGOULEME; visit The Valley of the Monkeys in VIENNE; a wonderful park in COGNAC offering crazy golf, playgrounds and large sandpit, and much, much more.
GETTING THERE:
The Charente Region benefits from good transport connections which make travel to La Grille easy.
ANGOULEME airport is only 45 minutes from the house while LA ROCHELLE, POITIERS and LIMOGES are all within 90 minutes. BORDEAUX airport is less than two hours away.
There is a wide range of flights from airports around the UK to choose from, including direct flights to LA ROCHELLE from SCOTLAND, and arranging car hire for your onward journey is straightforward.
If you prefer to travel by train, take EUROSTAR to PARIS or LILLE and connect with a high speed TGV to ANGOULEME.
Yet another option is to take your own car. La Grille is only a seven hour drive from CALAIS on non-congested roads. Alternatively, by taking the ferry to LE HAVRE or CAEN, you can complete your journey in a leisurely five hours.
Other Activities:
Wine tasting, Bird watching, Theme Parks, Sightseeing, Picnics, Exploring Local Markets
Learn more about this holiday rental at the owner's website:
